Oregon forward Vanderhoeven makes NCAA commitment

Sam Vanderhoeven played in both the 2021 and 2020 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournaments.

The Oregon Tradesmen of the NA3HL are pleased to announce that forward Sam Vanderhoeven has committed to play NCAA Division III hockey for The College of St. Scholastica of the MIAC Conference. 

Vanderhoeven will join the St. Scholastica Saints men’s hockey program in the fall of 2022. The College of St. Scholastica, located in Duluth, Minnesota, is an independent private college with an enrollment of 4,000 students. The collegiate hockey program, a member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), began as a club hockey program in 1972 and has since become of member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, appeared in two NCAA Tournaments, and has been under the leadership of head coach Kevin Moore for the past two seasons. 

Vanderhoeven, 21, just finished his third full season of junior hockey in the NA3HL, spending his first season with the Coulee Region Chill and two seasons with the Oregon Tradesmen. The 6’4/220 lbs. native of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, played 46 regular season games for the Tradesmen in the 2021-22 campaign, recording 40 goals and 69 points to put him highest in points on the team and top twenty in points across the NA3HL. He also played 5 games in the 2022 Fraser Cup Playoffs, scoring two goals and five points in those games. 

For his efforts during the 2021-22 season, Vanderhoeven was named to the NA3HL All-Central Division Team in addition to be named to being named to the All-NA3HL 2nd Team.

Vanderhoeven was selected twice as the NA3HL’s Central Division Star of the Week in September of the 2021-22 season, combining for 13 points in four games across those two weeks. In the month of November, Sam scored 9 goals and had 16 points to secure the NA3HL Forward of the Month award. Across the three seasons Vanderhoeven spent in the NA3HL, Vanderhoeven played in 134 regular season games and turned in 157 points. 

Vanderhoeven was selected to and participated in both the 2020 and 2021 NA3HL Top Prospects Tournaments. There he recorded a point in five games played between the two tournaments. 

Before playing junior hockey in his home state, Vanderhoeven spent four years playing for Beaver Dam High School in Wisconsin. He also participated in the 2017 16U NAPHL Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota, representing the Janesville Jets 16U team. 

Click here for an NA3HL college commitment list